Netflix, a little company that if you haven’t heard of, you’re somewhere in Kyrgyzstan. Since 2012, Netflix has been bringing folks original content, TV shows, movies, and documentaries that aren’t available anywhere else on the web. Taking advantage of the core principle of adaptation that’s kept the company the industry standard, despite the fall of Blockbuster and rise of Hulu. Netflix has brought some very good programing over the years (House of Cards), but they’ve also missed the mark on several occasions (Marco Polo). But despite the ups and downs each year Netflix seems to put out at least one show that taps into the vein of audiences and critics alike, one that grips you until you’ve somehow managed to spend a single day watching eight episodes of a TV show. I’m here to tell you, this year, that show is Stranger Things.
Written and directed by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer this sci-fi drama is set in small town Indiana, focusing on the sudden disappearance of a young boy, and the supernatural turmoil that follows. The writing, of course, is spectacular, keeping audiences on edge throughout the course of eight hours of television, twisting and turning throughout in ways that one might not expect. Very few times over the course of a TV show can you be scared and laughing within a matter of minutes, without it feeling uneven, but Stranger Things executes in a way that keeps the story flowing perfectly.
Many have praised the show for its homage to classic Sci-Fi, from Alien, to E.T., to nearly a hundred references to Stephen King stories the movie pays tributes, without falling into typical genre cliché’s and troupes. Furthermore, this movie reminds me of JJ Abrams work, it has the mystery present in the first few seasons of Lost, the spoke and chill factor of Fringe, and the 1980s throwback vibe of Super 8. Speaking of the 1980s, with my 1995 birth year I’m not so susceptible to nostalgia of the day, but this movie feels so much like movies of the time, the children that have lead roles dress and act in a way that nearly parallels E.T.
Stranger Things is officially listed as a drama, but the elements of thrillers and horror lurk within nearly every episode. It’s not a straight-up horror movie, but more of a tension-filled thriller, utilizing the Science Fiction and supernatural elements as proverbial and sometimes literal monsters in the dark. The show is refreshing because, although George RR Martin and co. have popularized real danger to major characters, most TV shows and movies are too afraid to take the risk and put lead characters in harm’s way. Stranger Things utilizes these elements of thrill and horror to put characters in danger, and really make you feel.
Finally, the acting and character development in the show is second to none. The cast boasts a few B-list celebrities in breakout roles, and a lot of newbies that showcase legitimate acting chops. The cast includes Winona Ryder (Black Swan), David Harbour (The Newsroom), Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, and Charlie Heaton. Standouts for me included Winona Ryder’s signature performance, Harbour’s grizzled and bad to the bone sheriff, and the surprisingly un-annoying child cast. Each and every character responds in a credible human way given the circumstances (with few exceptions), and each character has a near seamless arc. The characters are layered, and with the show goes the characters.
All in all, Stranger Things is an A+ for me -- one of the best shows I’ve seen this year, up with the second season of Mr. Robot, the second season of Better Call Saul, and the sixth season of Game of Thrones. I’ll likely rewatch Stranger Things many a time, and would recommend it to everyone.
Bonus:
The top show from Netflix by year
1. Lily Hammer (2012)
2. Tie: House of Cards / Orange is the New Black (2013)
3. Bo-Jack Horseman (2014)
4. Tie: Daredevil / Narcos (2015)
5. Stranger Things (2016)
